The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-08-06
FINDING A NEW CHANNEL
WHAT JOHN WYNN SAYS ABOUT
THE COURSE OF THE RIVER.


How the Fig Island Jetty Has Diverted
the Waters to the South Channel
The Bed of the River Washed From
Under the Old Cribs-Threatened
Danger That Can Now Be Averted.
John Winn, the well-known diver makes
a statement in regard to the condition of the
river and the effect of the Improvements in
the way of jetties and wing dams, which
should receive the attention of the govern
ment engineers. If what VIM says is cor
rect the water in the river is taking course
very different from that in
tended by the scientific men who
designed the system of river improvements.
Winn's statement is that since the jetties,
which begin at the eastern end of Fig Is
land, were extended to a point opposite
Fort Oglethorpe, the water, instead of flow
ing through the north channel around Elba
Island. has been turned into the south chan
mel and flows through Augustine creek and
Freedoms cut into Warsaw sound.
AT THE LIVE OAKS.
At the old Confederate Instructions
across the mouth of south channel, where
there were nine feet of water year ago,
there are now twenty -seven feet, and at the
submerged dam, built by the Government,
near that point, which was formerly above
low water mark, there are ten feet OF water.
This increased depth of water, Winn
says, holds good from the Deptford plan
tation through Augustine creek and Free
born's cut At the live oak trees put down
by the Confederates in the latter there are
twenty-five feet Of water. The diver says
that he can walk under the old cribs at the
a,,+ranaa no ha coufh channel and have ten
feet to spare overhead, the bed of the river
having washed away, leaving these old OBJ
structions resting far above on the pllings.
WATCH THE COMING FREsHET.
In reply to a question as TO the reason
why the water does not follow the south
channel down to Tybee instead of turning
into Augustine creek, Wynn stated that he
accounted for it by the fact that that south
channel became shallow below the mouth
of Augustine creek and the latter being
deeper water it was natural that
the water should turn into that course, and
once having begun to cut a way for itself it
continued to do so. He says that the cor
rectness of his theory and the truth of what
he asserts will be demonstrated to any one
who will examine into the matter, particu-
larry during the freshet which is now rush
ing toward the ocean.
TOO MUCH MONEY REQUIRED.
Il viii be remembered that one of the
plans urged years ago for deepening the
waterway from the city to the sea was the
Improvement of the south channel, or more
properly the south branch of the Savannah,
which is almost straight channel
from Fort Oglethorpe to Tybee.
1t is shorter route and
would only have required the closing of GER
tain openings which were necessary, and
which have been closed for the Improvement
of the north channel or branch OF the river,
and the dredging of a ship channel The
plan was not approved by the engineers, be
cause there was risk of stopping up the
river for a while unless there was
very large appropriation at one time so that
the work would not be delayed Such AN
appropriation it was not possible to get at
one session of Congress.
PROMPT ACTION NEEDED.
Winn insists that unless something is done
at once to stop the curEent which is now
eating It's way through the water courses
leading to Warsaw Sound there win be
serious damage done to the river.
There may be nothing in what
the diver SAYS, but nevertheless there is
other evidences than his statement to estab-
fish the correctness of his views. One of
these is the collision of several steamers
with the Tybee railroad bridge across
Augustine creek. WInn says the tide now
sets so strong through that estuary that it
is almost impossible to steer boat straight
through it. VIM is a good oarsnan but he
couldn't make much Roadway against an ebb
tide at that point.
THE NECESSARY IMPROVEMENTS.
The water flowing past the city formerly
emptied into broad eXpanse of water after
it passed Fig Island, and by gradual flow
sought the north or south branches or chan
nels Now it is confined between long
jetty and the south bank of the river, and is
almost directed in a straight line to
the abandoned south channel instead of the
north or improved channel. The construc-
ton Of wing dams below Fort Oglethorpe
and heavy submerged dam at the entrance
TO the south channel will, VIM thinks,
remedy the difficulty and avert danger
which threatens the river.